We are an unconventional family. We are four men. Our two young men are 7 and 10 years old. They were both adopted from Russia. Our two "old" men, are both 45. Mostly, we have had female au pairs. It's great for us to have a woman in the house. It helps our young men to have a female role model around. The last time we had to choose an au pair, the guys thought it would be fun to have a male au pair who would play sports with them. After going through many applications, and talking to a few candidates, we decided on Mateusz, from Poland. There were two things that really struck me from his application. He said that he understood that being an au pair was a big responsibility and he was not a person to give up easily. He has proven these words.

Mateusz almost immediately became part of our family. He was tested by fire on his very first full day with us. After arriving on a Friday evening, we left the next morning on a family vacation to Florida. On the flight, we were told that the plane was going to have to make an emergency landing. There was a problem with the landing gear and it the flight crew was unsure if they could steer the plane when it landed. This was only the third time Mateusz had been on an airplane, and he hardly knew our family. We were all terrified. The flight attendant asked Mateusz and me to move to the rear of the plane so that we could operate the emergency exits should it become necessary. We were trained on how to do this, and then the plane flew for what seemed like hours to burn off most of the fuel. During this time, I was scared. Mateusz was completely calm. We reviewed what we would have to do if the we had to operate the emergency exits and slides. His calmness helped me to remain calm. The plane landed safely. Many people were crying from the stress. We were all relieved and happy to be alive and safe.

Since this day, Mateusz has continued to distinguish himself as a role model for our two young men and as a family member and friend. He manages our household such that everyone is where they need to be when they need to be there and dressed in the right clothes. He does more than his share when helping out. The trash is always empty and there are never any dishes stacked up in the sink. If we forget to make a dinner plan, he figures something out. For all Mateusz does, and for his work ethic, maturity, and calmness under extreme pressure, he has proven himself to be an extraordinary au pair. We have grown to love him as an important part of our family.